Wristwatch strap and securement therefor



1966 F. w. SCHULENBERG 3,233,801

WRISTWATCH STRAP AND SECUREMENT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 15, 1964 INVENTOR BY FRED W. SCHULENBERG ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofllice 3,233,801 WRISTWATCH STRAP AND SECUREMENT THEREFOR Fred W. Schulenberg, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to No-BuloL Products, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 411,010 2 Claims. ,(Cl. 2244) The present invention relates generally to bands or bracelets for Wristwatches, and the like, and more particularly to a non-metallic wristwatch hand characterized by its resiliency which, together with its unique securement means, permits facile engagement and disengagement from a wearers wrist.

It has been the general practice to make wristwatch hands from metal, leather, and cloth material, Expandab-le bands made from metal links are not only costly to manufacture, but they also tend to pinch the wearer and'ride up and down the wearers wrist, The leather and cloth material type hand usually require threadable type b-u'ckles, clasps, or the like, which are often difficult to fasten with one hand. Further, they absorb perspiration which leads to rotting and eventual replacement of such band.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a securable band for Wristwatches which possesses none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. To attain this, the present invention utilizes a resilient plastic wrist strap and unique securernent stud and slot therefor which assures easy and positive fastening to the wearers wrist.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a seourable wristwatch band which is easily securable to the wearers wrist without requiring it to be threaded througha ibuckle or the like.

Another object is to provide a securable band for Wristwatches which is adjustable to a size corresponding to the wearers wrist andwhich fastens simply, but positively thereto.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a securable band for Wristwatches which is adjustably securable to the wearers wrist and which does not absorb perspiration or ride up and down the wrist.

In the present invention these purposes (as well as others apparent herein) are achieved generally by providing a flat resilient wrist strap having a generally triangular opening in close proximity to .one of its ends. A narrow slot extends from the triangular opening along the longitudinal centerline of the strap and terminates short of the one end. Near its other endv the wrist strap is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings. A stud having an acorn-shaped head and a disc portion joined by a narrower stem portion is used to secure the two ends of the strap about the wearers wrist. The acorn-shaped head has its largest diameter adjacent its base; this diameter being substantially the same as one side of the triangular opening provided in the wrist strap.

Utilization of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosures made in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: i

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the securaib le band of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a stud utilized to secure the ends of the securable band of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the method of overlapping the ends of the strap of FIG. 1 and securing them together;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 3

Patented Feb. 8, 1966 ,5 showing the overlapped ends of the strap secured together; and

FIG. 5 is a full cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a onepiece securable band, generally designated 10, for wristwatches. The band 10 consists of a flat strap 12 which is stamped from a sheet of vinyl plastic. The plastic material is characterized by its durability and its resil: iency, that is, it possesses wear characterisncs which resist repeated bending, crimping, and the like; yet it is resilent enough to undergo slight elongation and resiliently return to its original shape.

It has been found that a length of approximately 9 inches is sufiicient to penrnit overlapping of the strap ends 14 and 16 when wrapped around the wearers wrist. In close proximity to the strap end 14 there is die punched a generally triangular opening 18 which has three rounded corners 20, 22 and 24. The rounded corner 20 is positioned along the longitudinal centerline, designated as aa, of the securable band 10. The other rounded corners 22 and 24 are positioned between the strap end 14 and the centered corner 20 so that, in general appearance, the triangular opening 18 resembles an arrowhead pointing away from the strap end 14. The three sides of the triangular opening 18 between the rounded corners. 20-24 are of substantially the same length.

A narrow slot 26 extends frcrn the triangular opening 18 along the longitudinal centerline a a of the strap 12 toward but terminating short of the strap end 14. This slot 26 serves as a locking or secunnent slot for a quickfastening securement stud to he described hereinafter.

Extending inward irorn the opposite strap end 16 and along the longitudinal centerline a-a are a plurality of spa d p r o ni 8- hes peni 8 e d to adjust the length of the securable band on the wearers wrist and secure the ends together.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a securernent stud, generally designated 30 Whifih is used to tie together the two ends of the wrist strap 12. Preferably, this quick-fastening stud is formedof hard, durable material, for example, stainless steel. It consists of an co nh pe e p r i 2. a st m Po t n 34, an a disc portion 36.

The head portion 32 extends curvedly and somewhat comically upward from a fiat circular undersurface or base 33 to terminate in a smooth rounded top 40. Its largest diameter is adjacent to the base 38, such diameter being substantially the length of'one side of the triangular opening 18. Thus, when the acorn-shaped head portion 32 has been inserted through the triangu ar opening 18, the circle of its base 36, when viewed in plan form, extends outwardly to overlap the straight mid-portions of the sides of the triangular opening 18. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, the insertion of the acorn-shaped head portion 32 through the triangular opening 18 is made easy because the diameter offthe base 38 is substantially the same as the length of one side of the triangular opening 18.

Extending downward from the center of the flat base 38 of the head portion 32 is the stern portion 34, of substantially lesser diameter than the fiat base 38 and slightly r e n th ot f th i t st a 1.2- The length of the stem portion 34 is substantially twice the thickness of the wrist strap 12 (see FIG. 5), so that both ends of the strap may be accommodated between the flat base 38 of the head-portion 32 and the top of the base portion 36.

At the lower end of the stern portion 34 the integral disc portion is provided. This portion 36 has a diameter substantially greater than any of the openings 28 provided at the end 16 of the Wrist strap 12. Thus, when the securement stud 30 has its head portion 32 inserted through the openings 28 so that they enclose the stem portion 34, it is restrained from further insertion into or through the openings by the base portion 36.

Quick, easy securement, now to be described, may be made with one hand.

For purposes of illustration, the securement step shown in FIG. 4 is illustrated with the strap 12 removed from the wrist of the wearer. It is to be understood that the wrist strap 12 would be preliminarily threaded through the mounting provisions on a watch.

The proper opening 28 corresponding to the wrist size of the wearer is chosen. The hand is adjusted to size by forcing the acorn-shaped head portion 32 of the stud 30 through such opening from the undersurface of the wrist strap 12. Because the wrist strap 12 is made of durable, tough plastic material and is also resilient, the head portion 32 Can be forced through the opening 28 and retained about its stem portion 32; The disc 36 prevents the stud 30 from being pulled completely through the opening 28, its flat undersurface being presented against the wearers wrist.

After the stud 26 has been inserted, the strap end 16 is Wrapped around the wearers wrist so as to overlap the strap end 14. By pulling at the end 14 the resilient plastic wrist strap 12 can be elongated sufiiciently so that the triangular opening 18 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3, that is, with the centered corner 20 slantingly elevated above the rounded top 40 of the stud head portion 32 and the other two corners 22, 24 held depressed below the flat surface of its base 38. By maintaining the opening 18 in this position and allowing it to move to the right as seen in FIG. 3, it can be matingly inserted over the head portion 32 of the stud 30 without stretching or tearing the sides of the triangular opening 18. Because of its resiliency, the elongated strap will draw the triangular opening down over the head portion 32 and into the narrow slot 26. g

It should be noted that the complementary shape of the triangular opening 18 and the acorn-shaped head portion 32 when held in the position above described, taken together with the characteristic resiliency of the wrist strap 12, permit quick and easy fastening of the ends of the strap without repeated stretching and possible tearing of the plastic material around generally triangular opening 18.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, it may be convenient to provide a strap with a plurality of triangular and slotted openings 18 at one end of the strap, and a single hole 28 adjacent to the opposite end. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described.

I claim:

1. A securable band for Wristwatches, and the like, comprising a flat wrist strap of plastic characterized by resiliency and having a length suflicient to permit overlapping of its ends, said strap including a generally triangular opening having rounded corners and positioned in proximity to one end thereof, one rounded corner of said triangular opening positioned along the longitudinal centerline of said fiat strap and the other rounded corners being positioned between said one end of said strap and said one rounded corner,

a slot extending from said triangular opening along the longitudinal centerline of said strap and terminating short of said one end thereof, and

a plurality of spaced apart holes extending from the other end of the strap and positioned along the longitudinal centerline thereof,

together with a stud for securing said strap and including an acorn-shaped head portion having a base including a flat undersurface and having its largest diameter adjacent to its base, said diameter being substantially the same as one side of said triangular opening,

a stem portion extending downward from the center of said base of said head portion for a length substantially twice the thickness of the strap, said stem portion being narrower than said slot of said flat strap, and

a disc portion at the end of said stem portion opposite said head portion and of substantially greater size than any of said plurality of holes in said strap.

2. A securable band for Wristwatches, and the like,

comprising a flat wrist strap of plastic characterized by resiliency and having a length sufficient to permit overlapping of its ends, said strap including a plurality of generally triangular openings each having rounded corners and positioned in proximity to one end thereof, one rounded corner of each of said triangular openings positioned along the longitudinal centerline of said flat strap and the other rounded corners of each of said openings being positioned between said one end of said strap and said one rounded corner,

each opening having a slot extending therefrom along the longitudinal centerline of said strap, and

a hole adjacent to the other end of the strap and positioned along the longitudinal centerline thereof,

together with a stud for securing said strap and including an acorn-shaped head portion having a base including a flat undersurface and having its largest diameter adjacent to its base, said diameter being substantially the same as one side of each of said triangular openings,

a stern portion extending downward from the center of said base of said head portion for a length substantially twice the thickness of the strap, said stem portion being narrower than said slots of said flat strap openings, and i a disc portion at the end of said stern portion opposite said head portion and of substantially greater size than said hole in said strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,718,821 6/ 1929 Herschede 24-206.1 2,940,646 6/1960 Ric-ha et al. 2416 2,980,975 4/1961 Jones 24-217 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,033 8/ 1915 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

I. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A SECURABLE BAND FOR WRISTWATCHES, AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A FLAT WRIST STRAP OF PLASTIC CHARACTERIZED BY RESILIENCY AND HAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT OVERLAPPING OF ITS ENDS, SAID STRAP INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY TRIANGULAR OPENINGS EACH HAVING ROUNDED CORNERS AND POSITIONED IN PROXIMITY TO ONE END THEREOF, ONE ROUNDED CORNER OF EACH OF SAID TRIANGULAR OPENINGS POSITIONED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINE OF SAID FLAT STRAP AND THE OTHER ROUNDED CORNERS OF EACH OF SAID OPENINGS BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID ONE END OF SAID STRAP AND SAID ONE ROUNDED CORNER, EACH OPENING HAVING A SLOT EXTENDING THEREFROM ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINE OF SAID STRAP, AND A HOLE ADJACENT TO THE OTHER END OF THE STRAP AND POSITIONED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINE THEREOF, TOGETHER WITH A STUD FOR SECURING SAID STRAP AND INCLUDING AN ACORN-SHAPED HEAD PORTION HAVING A BASE INCLUDING A FLAT UNDERSURFACE AND HAVING ITS LARGEST DIAMETER ADJACENT TO ITS BASE, SAID DIAMETER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS ONE SIDE OF EACH OF SAID TRIANGULAR OPENINGS, A STEM PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM THE CENTER OF SAID BASE OF SAID HEAD PORTION FOR A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY TWICE THE THICKNESS OF THE STRAP, SAID STEM PORTION BEING NARROWER THAN SAID SLOTS OF SAID FLAT STRAP OPENINGS, AND A DISC PORTION AT THE END OF SAID STEM PORTION OPPOSITE SAID HEAD PORTION AND OF SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER SIZE THAN SAID HOLE IN SAID STRAP. 